Sole edge inking machine



June 23, 1942. E. s. NoKEsv 2,287,054

SOLE EDGE INKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented `lune 23, 1942 l srrss ATENT GFFICE SOLE EDGE INKING MACHINE Jersey Application February 19, 1940, SerialA No. 319,663

Claims.

The present invention pertains to a machine for finishing the edges of unattached outsoles and is particularly designed to apply a liquid ink to the edge of such a sole and immediately thereafter to burnish the same.

It is customary to apply ink to the edge of a shoe sole with a b-rush and after the ink dries to hold the sole against a burnishing roll. This procedure prevails in spite of the fact that numerous machines have been devised to perform 'the inking operation or the burnishing operation or both, primarily because these machines were not fast enough to compete with the hand method.

t is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide an improved machine capable of applying a liquid ink to the edge of a shoe sole and thereafter immediately burnishing the same rapidly and economically.

In'accordance with the object of the invention it is proposed to combine with the inking operation the subsequent burnishing operation, thereby performing the two operations on a single machine in approximately the same period of time as it formerly took to perform a single operation. This is accomplished by automatically moving the peripheral redge of the unattached sole lengthwise against inking means for the application of ink thereto and against burnishing means spaced therefrom for polishing the ink, the distance between the inking and burnishing means being at least great enough to permit partial drying of the ink during the travel of the sole from the inking to the burnishing roll.

The improved machine constructed in accordance with the stated object will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, partly in section, illustrating the position of the sole with respect to the inking and burnishing rolls;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 2 showing the relative positions of the feed rolls and the guard.

Referring to Fig. l for the general organization of the machine it will be observed that it comprises essentially a frame III and a pair of opposed feed rolls I2 and I4 adapted to grip the marginal edge of a sole S and move the edge thereof lengthwise in contact with an inking roll I6 and a burnishing roll I8, the relation of the aforesaid parts being such that the resultant forces produced by the feed rolls and the inking and burnishng rolls automatically turn the sole peripherally when it is introduced to the machine.

The feed rolls I2 and I4 are mounted with their peripheral edges opposite each other, the rolls when inoperative (Fig. 2) being spaced sufficiently to permit the introduction of the sole readily between the same.y The feed roll I4 is mounted for rotation at the lower end of a vertical countershaft 23 journaled in the frame It) of the machine, the countershaft 2t being driven by a gear 24 at its upper end arranged to mesh with a gear 26 fixed lto the upper end of a shaft 23 also journaled in the frame. The shaft 23 is driven by a gear 3i) fixed to its lower end which meshes with a gear 32 fixed to the main drive shaft 34, said shaft being mounted in a'gbearing 36 bolted to the base of the frame and being connected for rotation to an outside source of power by a pulley 38 and a belt. The roll I2 is likewise mounted at the lower end of a countershaft 42 substantially parallel to the shaft 20. However, in this instance the shaft 42 is journaled lfor rotation in a member 44 pivoted to the frame of the machine so that the shaft 42, and consequently the feed roll I2, maybe moved to and from the roll I4.- The countershaft 42 is driven from the main shaft'34 by way of a gear 46 which is fixed to the lower end of. a shaft 48 and the'meshing gears 5t and 52 fixed respectively to the upper ends of the shaft 48 and countershaft 42. The member 44 is providedwith a boss 54 integral therewith whereby the 'member is pivotally mounted on the inner end of the drive shaft 34 between the inner end of -the bearing Se and the gear 32. An arm 55 extends from the member 44V beyondthe axis of the shaft 34 and has attached to its free end a trea'dle rod 58 whereby the member 44 may beV tilted about the axis of the shaft 34 as a center .to bring the roll I2 into feeding relation with the roll I4 during the inking operation, or to allow the roll I2 to fall away from the roll I4 during periods of nonuse. This permits the work to be properly positioned with respect to the finishing rolls prior. to the actual feeding thereof. A stop screw 6l! (Fig. 2) limits the movement of the lever 56 so that the roll I2 cannot be brought accidentally into contact With the roll I4.

In order to provide for a positive non-slip feed, the roll I2 is toothed so as to bite into the fiesh side of the sole. However, it is to be observed that the roll i4 is smooth for the reason that it is not desirable to scar or indent the grain side of the sole. The feeding Vforce exerted by the feed rolls I2 and I4 tend to turn the sole about force tending to advance the sole obliquely in a line parallel to a line tangent to the inking and burnishing rolls and a component force tending to press the edge of the sole against the inking and burnishing rolls. The resultant movement causes the edge of the sole to travel against the inking and burnishing rolls with its perimeter in continuous contact with the rolls. Once the sole is placed in the machine, it will turn automatically. Thus, every curve in the edge of the sole is presented to the inking and burnishing rolls as long as it is left in the machine. The force tending to press th edge of the sole against the inking and burnishing rolls is apportioned between the points of contact b and a of the sole with these rolls in approximately the ratio of 2 to l, the greater force being upon the inking roll.

In order to change the burnishing roll I8 so that it will correspond with the inking roll I6, should that be necessary, the frame G9 is disassembled by removing the pins 'is and the tie bar Sli, whereupon the plates 92 may be removed from the ends of the shaft 6% and separated sufciently to remove the burnishing roll I8 and its shaft 90. The alternative is to remove the whole unit, that is, the ink pot, the ink roll, and the burnishing roll, and substituting therefor another unit. This may be effected by disconnecting the spring ISG), disconnecting the heater B, slipping the link Hill from the ends of the universal joints and removing the bolt 16, whereupon the unit may be bodily removed from the shelf 7B.

In operation the edge of the shoe sole S is placed against the inking and burnishing rolls i6 Hi with its grain. surface in contact with the roll le. Thereupon the operator steps upon the treadle f not shown) so as to bring the toothed roll i2 into feeding Contact with the esh side of the sole. The treadle is not released until the entire periphery of the sole has been turned against the inliing and burnishing rolls. When the finishing operation is complete, the treadle is released and the roll l2 is permitted to fall away from the roll M so that the sole is released from the grip of the rolls and may be readily removed from the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a machine for finishing the peripheral edge of an unattached` sole, inking means for applying ink to the edge of the sole, burnishing means for polishing the ink applied to said edge, and feeding means for gripping the margin of the sole and automatically turning the sole in the plane of one of its. surfaces with its edge simultaneously against both the inking and burnishing means, said inlzing means being spaced laterally from the burnishing means a distance less than the width of the sole at its narrowest point.

2. In a machine for finishing the peripheral edge of an unattached sole, an inkng roll for applying liquid ink to the edge of the sole, a burnishing roll for rubbing the ink applied to the edge of the sole, and feeding means for gripping the marginal portion of the sole and moving the lengthwise with its edge simultaneously against both the inking and burnishing rolls, the distance between said rolls being less than the width of the sole at its narrowest point.

3. In a machine for finishing the peripheral edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying ink to the edge of the sole, a driven burnishing roll for polishing the ink applied to the edge of the sole, the surface of said burnishing roll moving in a direction opposite to the movement of the edge of the sole, and feeding rolls for gripping the marginal portion of the sole for moving the same lengthwise with its edge against both the inking and burnishing rolls, the distance between said inking and burnishing rolls being less than the Width ofthe sole at its narrowest point.

4. In a machine for finishing the peripheral edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying liquid ink to the edge of the sole, a burnishing roll for rubbing the applied ink, the peripheral surfaces of the inking and burnishing rolls being shaped to conform to the profile of the edge of the sole, and feeding rolls for gripping the marginal portion of the sole and moving the same lengthwise with its edge against both the inking and burnishing rolls.

5. In a machine for finishing the peripheral edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying ink to the edge of the sole, a burnishing roll for rubbing the ink on the edge of the sole, said burnishing roll being yieldable with respect to the inking roll, and feeding means for gripping the margin of the sole and moving it lengthwise with its edge simultaneously against both the inking and burnishing rolls, said inking and burnishing rolls being spaced apart to permit the ink partially to set during the travel of the sole from the inking to the burnishing roll.

6. In a machine for finishing the peripheral edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying ink to `the edge of the sole, a shaft, said inking roll being mounted for free rotation thereon, a burnishing roll for rubbing the ink applied to the edge of the sole, a driven shaft spaced from and parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, said burnishing roll being mounted for rotation with said driven shaft, and feeding means for gripping the margin of the sole and moving the sole lengthwise with its edge simultaneously against the inking and burnishing rolls.

7. In a machine for nishing the peripheral edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying ink to the edge of the sole, a burnishing roll for polishing the applied ink on the edge of the sole, and feeding rolls for gripping the margin of the sole and moving it lengthwise with its edge against the inking and burnishing rolls, the work engaging surfaces of said burnishing roll and inking roll being positioned on opposite sides of the point of contact of the feed rolls, and means for yieldably holding the burnishing roll in said position.

8. In a machine for nishing the edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying ink 'to the edge of the sole, a burnishing roll for rubbing the ink on the edge of the sole, a shaft for supporting the inking roll for free rotation, a frame rotatably supported on said shaft, a driven shaft journaled in said frame, said burnishing roll being mounted on said driven shaft to turn therewith, limiting means, means for yieldably holding the frame against the limiting means in such a position that the shaft lies in a plane inclined from the vertical so that the burnishing roll lies rearwardly and upwardly of the inking roll, and feeding rolls for gripping the margin of the sole and moving it lengthwise with its edge against the inking and the burnishing rolls.

9. In a machine for finishing the edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying ink to the edge of the sole, a burnishing roll for rubbing the ink applied to the edge of the sole, a

shaft for supporting the inking roll for free rotation, a frame rotatably supported on said shaft, said frame comprising two side members journaled on the opposite ends of said shaft, a crosstie joining said side members between their ends, said side members extending rearwardly and upwardly from said shaft, a driven shaft journaled between the upper ends of said side members, said burnishing roll being mounted on said driven shaft to turn therewith, one of said side members extending below the first-mentioned shaft, a limit pin, a spring connected to said extension and arranged to yieldably hold the frame against said limit pin in such a position that the free ends of the side members are substantially vertical whereby the burnishing roll is held above and to the rear of the inking roll, and feeding rolls for gripping the margin of the sole and moving it lengthwise with its edge against the inking and the burnishing rolls.

10. In a machine for finishing the edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll for applying ink to the edge of the sole, a burnishing roll for pressing the ink against the edge, opposed feeding rolls for moving the sole lengthwise against said inking and burnishing rolls, one of said rolls having a toothed surface adapted to bite into the flesh side of the sole and the other roll having a smooth surface adapted to engage the grain side of the sole, and a guard extending from the front of said smooth roll around the inside thereof substantially to the bite of said rolls, said guard extending below the face of the roll so as to prevent the marginal portion of the sole from bending under pressure exerted on the marginal edge by the feeding of the sole.

11. In a machine for finishing the edge of an unattaohed sole, an ink pot, means for heating the ink pot, an inking roll dipping into the pot, opposed feeding means for moving the sole lengthwise with its edge bearing against the ink roll, and a burnishing roll positioned so that the inked portion of the sole is subsequently moved against the burnishing roll, said rolls being spaced far enough apart to permit the ink to partially dry during the travel of the sole from the inking roll to the burnishing roll.

12. In a machine for finishing the edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll and a burnishing roll, opposed feed rolls for moving the sole length- Wise against said inking and burnishing rolls, the points of Contact of said sole with the inking and burnishing rolls lying on opposite sides of a plane coinciding with an end of one of the feed rolls, and means for supplying ink to the bottom of the inking roll, said burnishing roll being mounted rearwardly of the inking roll.

13. In a machine for finishing the edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll and a burnishing roll, opposed feeding rolls for moving the sole lengthwise against said inking and burnishing rolls, said inking roll being mounted for free rotation on a shaft, and said burnishing roll being mounted to rotate with a driven shaft, the points on said inkingv and burnishing rolls engaged by the Work lying on opposite sides of a plane coinciding with an end face of one of the feed rolls.

14. In a machine for finishing the edge of an unattached sole, an inking roll and a burnishing roll, opposed feeding rolls for moving the sole lengthwise against said inking and burnishing rolls, a horizontal shaft upon which the inking roll is mounted for free rotation with its Work engaging surface below the bite of the feed rolls, a yieldably supported frame having a burnishing roll journaled thereon, means for urging the frame to carry the burnishing roll toward the feed rolls, and means to limit the movement of the frame.

l5. In a machine as in 14 having a yieldably supported frame on the ends of a horizontal shaft, said frame extending rearwardly and upwardly from said shaft, a shaft mounted on the frame for rotatably supporting the burnishing roll, means for urging the frame to turn about the horizontal shaft so as to move said burnishing roll forward, and means to limit the forward turning movement of the frame.

ERNEST S. NOKES.

June 23, 1942.

o. w. oLsoN TRAILER Filed Feb. 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 

